Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst is struggling with his decision whether or not to play in the Outback Bowl. Whatever his decides, his teammates have his back.
Hurst, projected as a first round pick, was Pro Football Focus’ top player in the country this year. He said Dec. 7 he wasn’t sure if he’d play, and he didn’t tip his hand either way at the Dec. 12 football banquet.
"I'm practicing, but I haven't [made a decision],” he said. “I’m speaking with my family, talking to [former Michigan players] Jake [Butt], Chris [Wormley] and a few other guys who have had a similar decision.
“I’ll talk with Coach [Jim] Harbaugh. I’m just trying to use all my resources to make sure that I make the best decision for myself and my family."
The fifth-year senior is hoping to decide before Dec. 20.
Hurst took out an insurance policy before the beginning of the season on the Butt family’s advice. Butt suffered a torn ACL in last year’s Orange Bowl and slid to the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of last year’s NFL Draft, and didn’t play this season, continuing to rehab.
Fifth-year seniors Khalid Hill and Mike McCray are both planning on playing in the bowl game, but their circumstances are different, Hill admitted.
“I’m not really [thinking about missing the game]. I’m a fullback,” Hill said. “I’m not like Mo, all the other guys out there in the process of [thinking about it]… and I’m not saying Mo is, but I’m not a first round guy. Mo’s a top five guy, so I don’t have that in my bag to talk about how I’m going to skip the bowl game.
“I don’t want to, either, because it’s last time you’ll get a chance to be with your guys, play on the team with them, be on the team. First round guys might think about skipping the bowl game.”
Hill flirted with the NFL last year before deciding to return. His mother wanted him to graduate, which he will this week, and have a degree to fall back on.
“Fullback is not a position that lasts long in the NFL, and the NFL stands for ‘not for long,” Hill said. “I wasn’t in position to do it. If I was like Mo Hurst and I was a junior, I’d say ‘leave while you’re hot. Take the opportunity and go to the NFL … don’t risk it.’ But for me, a Michigan degree can go a long way.
“I won’t go out and think about [Butt’s injury]. I don’t want that in the back of my mind, though it’s always in the back of your mind. It is what it is. You don’t want to see it happen, for anybody to go down, get hurt. At the end of the day, it’s a physical sport. It happens.”
It’s crossed his mind too, McCray admitted.
“In my eyes, I can’t sit and think about it. God has a plan,” he said. “I’m not saying God’s plan for Jake was a bad thing. It made Jake stronger, made his story better. I think he’s torn his ACL before, and now he’s still in the NFL living his dream, think almost back to 100 percent. That’s all part of God’s plan.
“I don’t really know if Mo’s going to play or not, but ultimately it’s his decision. I’ll support him if he plays or not … some coaches might feel some type of way, but I feel like us as a team, our coaches and players, we support each other’s decisions. For him, he’s had a great career here, especially this year being first team All-American. It’s a great honor, everything he’s done this year.
“It’s really his decision, and he has our support no matter what he does.”
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